Portable oxygen regenerating escape hood

Abstract

A protective device to be emplaced over the head of a user comprises a sack-like member fabricated from a flexible film material and having an opening to enable a user to place the sack-like member over the user's head. The sack-like member has an interior containing a predetermined amount of an oxygen producing material, wherein the material produces oxygen by reacting with the exhalation products of the user.

1. A protective device to be emplaced over the head of a user comprising:
 a sack-like member fabricated from a gas-impermeable flexible film material and having an opening to enable a user to place the sack-like member over the user's head, said sack-like member having an interior wall containing a series of gas permeable pouches secured to the interior wall, wherein said pouches contain a predetermined amount of an oxygen producing material which produces oxygen by reacting with the exhalation products of said user. 
 
   
   
     2. The protective device according to  claim 1  wherein said flexible film material comprises a metallized polyester film. 
   
   
     3. The protective device according to  claim 2  wherein said flexible film material has a transparent portion to enable a user to see when said sack-like member is emplaced. 
   
   
     4. The protective device according to  claim 2  wherein said film is metallized with a highly reflective metal effective to reflect at least one of heat and light. 
   
   
     5. The protective device according to  claim 3  wherein said transparent portion is a window fabricated from a clear polyester film and bonded about an aperture located on said sack-like member and positioned to enable a user to view through said window. 
   
   
     6. The protective device according to  claim 1  further comprising an elastic band positioned on said sack-like member near said opening to encircle said opening to enable a seal to be formed about the user's neck when said protective device is placed over the user's head. 
   
   
     7. The protective device according to  claim 1  wherein said oxygen producing material is a Group I or Group II metal oxide. 
   
   
     8. The protective device according to  claim 1  wherein said oxygen producing material is potassium superoxide. 
   
   
     9. The protective device according to  claim 1  further comprising a bi-directional flap valve located on said sack-like member and operative to allow excess pressure to escape from the interior of said sack and to permit entry of surrounding atmosphere when said interior is evacuated. 
   
   
     10. The protective device according to  claim 1 , wherein said pouches contain potassium superoxide. 
   
   
     11. The protective device according to  claim 10  wherein said pouches are fabricated from a porous material and are heat sealed to the interior wall of said sack-like member. 
   
   
     12. The protective device according to  claim 11  wherein said porous material comprises a nylon material. 
   
   
     13. The protective device according to  claim 11  wherein said porous material comprises one of a mesh, weave, and perforated polycarbonate material. 
   
   
     14. The protective device according to  claim 1  further comprising a carrying case having an internal hollow for accommodating said sack-like member when said thin flexible material is folded. 
   
   
     15. The protective device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device defines a gas-impermeable sack-like member, and wherein said opening is the sole opening in said gas-impermeable sack-like member.